Hi, my name is John.

I can only tell you what worked for me. I have been Smoke Free since April 1st, 1990. And I haven’t had one today. I used a modified version of a plan called Smokenders. This plan helped me quit for 2 1/2 years, but I still went back. I went to every cessation program that I could find. American Cancer Society, different hospitals who sponsored these programs, and I tried on my own for a countless number of times without success. Finally I found my answer. I arrived at the l location of one of those cessation programs, and immediately saw a familiar sight I had seen many times before. Standing outside in the parking lot were several people smoking. Like me they were trying to get in all the smoke they could before the time they would be asked to sign “the pledge”. I know what they were feeling because I’ve driven to a convenience store at 2:30 in the morning because I had run out. I had broken pledges over and over to my self, others (don’t let them matter!), and these programs. As I sat there, taking it all in, I realized that it was MY responsibility to myself that mattered, and that it was about PAIN. No matter how I quit, it was going to hurt badly on many levels. Its like a woman going to  a hospital to take a class about giving birth; no matter what you know its going to hurt. I left without signing anything and with a new vision. So, I followed a modified Smokenders Plan and quit on a three-day weekend when my family would not be home. I looked in the bathroom mirror and had the last one by midnight.  For those three days, I could be myself without offending anyone, and without them offending me. Where does a 500 lb. gorilla sit? Anywhere he wants! I am still vigilant to this day. I maintain a strong, negative emotional response, and I achieve that by grinding butts that I may happen to find in about any parking lot into the pavement with my foot. Yes, I’ve gotten some weird looks from people. However, I once entered a break room where I was working and saw a whole, clean cigarette lying on a table. Honestly and truly, my very first reaction was to destroy it with gleeful anger. However, I was working at a steel mill at the time, and you don’t want a run-in with your average hard-working steel worker who is addicted to nicotine.                                           Jennifer, just remember, that cigarettes (I wince when I even type that word) are available virtually everywhere. It would be great if you could eliminate all paraphernalia such as ashtrays and any cigarettes from your home. I’m not going to pretend to tell you what to do about that. I’m telling you that it is about YOU….and, yes, it is going to hurt!

All the best, John.